Tag Games
1.Toilet Tag- Everyone is it. When someone is tagged they go down on one knee and hold their arm out. Someone will come by and “flush” their arm by pushing it down towards their side. Once that has happened, the player gets back up. Play is continuous.
2.Big Game Tag- Each player holds one hand up (this will be their antlers) and uses the other hand for tagging. Everyone is it. When a person is tagged they lost an antler. When they are tagged again they lose yet another antler and so on. When a person has lost all antlers have time pick an exercise or activity to do to regain their antlers. When the player has done that, they get back into the game.
3.Noodle tag- If you get tagged by someone with a noodle you get the noodle from the person who tagged you. Object is to not have a noodle when the round is over. Play multiple rounds.
4.Partner Tag- have two students partner up by joining hands or linking elbows and move together to tag other pairs. If one student in the group is tagged, both players chose an exercise. Once they do 10x of either exercise join up and get back in the game.
5.Helping hands tag- Everyone is it. If a player gets tagged, they sit where they got tagged. Another player will come by and hold both hands out and join hands with the tagged player. The standing player will then lift the sitting player up and get back into the game.
6.Outer Space- Place a few hoops around the playing area and make a large circle in the middle. The hoops represent planets and the large circle in the middle represents the sun. Players are astronauts and give a few players a tagging implement. They will be the aliens. Aliens will try to tag astronauts. Astronauts may avoid being tagged by landing on a planet (hoop). While on the planet they must remain active. They may remain on the planet as long as they wish until another astronaut comes up to them and says "see you later." The astronaut on the planet must leave when that happens. If an alien tags an astronaut, the astronaut goes to the middle and waits in the big circle (sun). The sun provides an energy boost for the astronaut. To get back in the game an astronaut in space must pull an astronaut out of the
7.Melting Tag- Everyone is it. If you get tagged, pretend you are a melting ice cube. As you melt, count down from 10 to 0. If you get to 0, you are now a puddle. Get up and do a choice exercise then get back in game. While you are counting down if someone tags you again before you get to 0 you are free to get back in the game
8.Sit and Spin tag- Everyone is it. When you are tagged, sit on the floor and spin around on your rear end as many times as the teacher assigns. Get back up and join in.
10.Cooperation Tag- Everyone is it. If you get tagged, stop where you are begin a movement to signal you have been tagged. Two people when then join hands around you and and shuffle in a circle around you two times. Once they have done that you are back in the game. Those helping others get back in the game cannot be tagged while helping.
11. Blob Tag- Give a few players an object or pinnie to wear that indicates they are the taggers for the round. Taggers will go around trying to tag anyone. Once a person is tagged they join hands with the tagger and continue to run to tag others. They continue this as long as there are people to tag. The object is to see who can get the biggest line or blob.
12. Fire tag- Everyone is it. When a player is tagged they Stop, Drop and Roll two times (log roll) and then get back into the game
13. Crab Tag- Everyone is it. When a player is tagged they get into crab walk position. While in crab walk position they crabwalk to another player who has been tagged and is now in crabwalk position too. When they crabwalk to each other they will give each other a crab high five (foot to foot) and both stand up and get back into the game.
14. Dead Bug- Everyone is it. When a player is tagged they lie on their back with their hands and feet up in the air. One person will then grab a hold of the players hands and one person will grab a hold of the players feet. The helpers will then drag the player over to a designated area out of the way. Once they are out of the way, the player will do a designated activity and then get back into the game.
15. All In- The game starts with one tagger. When the tagger tags a player that player becomes a tagger too. Play until you have only one person who hasn’t been tagged left.
Variation: I have players grab a pinnie when they have been tagged. When there is only a few players left I stop the round. The next round begins in reverse. The people without a pinnie now become the tagger and when someone is tagged they take their pinnie off and become a tagger
16. Lost in the crowd- (play this game inside, so as not to lose anyone)Players partner up. One person stand in one place and counts to a certain number (to integrate math have them skip count to a certain number). Once the player has reached the designated number they are to go find their partner and try to tag them. Once the partner has been spotted, they can flee if they want to.
17. Elbow Tag or Bumper Tag- Players pair up with each other, link arms and scatter in the their pairs around a playing area. Pick a few players to be “it”. The object of the game is for one of the chasers to hook onto the arm of one of the pairs and when they do the other one of the pair must leave and becomes a chaser trying to link up with another pair.
18.Elbow Tag #2- In this version pairs who are joined are safe.
Players pair up and lock elbows. Have few players remain as singles to be "it". The "it's" are attempting to tag each other. If a tagger is chasing another tagger, they may lock elbows with a pair (as in the original game) and the opposite side member must bump off and become an "it". If a tagger tags another "it", that person leaves the game to do an activity and then rejoins.
19. Chain Reaction- Players pair up with each other, link arms and scatter in the their pairs around a playing area. Pick a few players to be “it”. When a pair is tagged they split up and each of the players in the pair joins in as individuals to become chasers. Once you become a chaser you remain one for the rest of the round. The game ends when there are no more pairs.
20. Buffalo Bill and Betty- Pick a boy and a girl to be IT. They have 60 seconds to tag or “round up” as many buffalo as they can. As students are tagged, they must go to the corral (coned off area). Have them doing something active and fun while in the corral. At the end of the round, count the buffalo and see if the next taggers can beat that number.
21. Partner Tag- simple tag game where only partners are chasing each other. When one partner tags the other, switch roles.
22. Rock, Paper, Scissor Tag (RSP)- have partners do RSP. The winner then chases the other partner. Once the other partner is tagged do a new round.
-variation- do active RSP- instead of pounding their fist’s have the partners jump to the cadence. On “shoot” they use their feet to show R, S, or P.
Feet together = Rock
Feet wide apart = Paper
Feet split apart from front to back = scissors
23. Catching Tag- Noodles and gatorskins are needed. Players with noodles go around trying to tag everyone. When a player is tagged they must freeze. To get back into the game a player with a gatorskin must correctly perform an underhand toss or overhand throw to the tagged person and the tagged person must catch it. If the tagged person catches the ball they are back into the game and now they must help someone get back into the game by tossing or throwing the ball to a tagger player
24. Memory Tag- All students in memory tag are taggers. If a student is tagged they do a designated activity in the spot where they were tagged. They have to remember who tagged them. When another student tags the student who tagged them they are free to join the game again. If two students tag each other at the same time, use rock, paper, scissor.
25.
26. Shadow Tag- Play this game outside. Everyone is it. Instead of players tagging each other, players will “tag” by stepping on someone’s shadow. To make it more advanced, make the objective to tag a particular body part, head, arm, leg, etc.
27. Hot and Cold Tag- Give out a red gatorskins to a few players and give out blue gatorskins to a few players (beanbags are fine as well). The blue people are the ice kings/queens and are the taggers. The red people are fire. When a player is tagged by an ice king/queen that player freezes in a balance position. To get back into the game a person with a fireball must come and hand it to them so that they can melt and get back into the game.
28.
29. Cone Tag- Place cones randomly around the gym. Designate a small area in the middle as the “tagger’s circle”. The rest of the players stand at a cone, no more than 3 at a cone. When the game starts the “Cone People” move to another cone while trying not to be tagged by a tagger. There are never to be more than 3 people at a cone. Play is continuous as players move from cone to cone trying to avoid being tagged. If a player is tagged they become a tagger and the tagger becomes a Cone Person. Players may only remain at a cone for no longer than 5 seconds before they must move to a different cone.
30. Run for it- Make a large circle in the middle that players can move in and out of easily. Place cones outside of the large circle in random spots. Assign 3 or 4 players to be taggers and give them noodles. The object of the game is for the players in the middle to leave the big circle, go tag a cone outside of the circle and then return. If they make it back to the big circle without being tagged they get a point (or skip count). If they get tagged before making it back to the middle they get no points for that round. Keep rounds to about 60 seconds or so. Change taggers each round.
31. Foot Tag- Give half the class noodles. When the game starts the taggers with the noodles are going to try to tag other player’s feet with the noodle.
-variation- give the taggers gatorskins and have them try to toss/roll or throw the ball at their foot.
32. Bean Bag Tag- Select three colors of beanbags and give each student a bean bag. The students will move through the designated playing area attempting to slide/throw the bean bags at each others feet. If you get tagged with a beanbag, you hold your bean bag in the air until someone with the same color beanbag sets you free by sliding the beanbag between your feet. Play is continuous.
33. Jungle Tag- A few players are chosen as hyenas to be the taggers. The rest of the class are animals in the jungle and line up on the baseline. The teacher then secretly chooses two lions. On the signal the animals and two lions run to the other baseline. Any animal tagged by a hyena is frozen. On the return trip the lions may unfreeze the frozen animals. The idea is for the hyenas to figure out who are the lions and try to tag them. When the lions are tagged the round is over.
34. Balance tag - spread out hoops. In the hoops put something for the players to balance on. I used inflatable balance pads in some hoops and a foam brick in others. Assign a handful of taggers. Also hand out a few gatorballs. If a player is tagged they find a hoop to go to and stand on the balance object. To get back in the game a player with a gator ball must throw or toss their ball to the balancing player. Balancing player must catch the ball and remain on balance while doing so. If they achieve this, they may get back into the game and take their ball to go help someone else. (If you can, use bosu balls for this activity!)
35. Shout it out Tag- Place 4 hoops in each corner of the gym with a 5th hoop in the middle. Choose 4-5 people to be it. Each it has a gatorskin which is a “stink bomb”. On the signal the game will start and the skunks chase the other players, trying to tag them with the gatorskin. After a player has been tagged that player must take the ball and go the the middle hoop, do a star jump and exclaim anything they want as loud as possible!.
The hoops in the corner are safety zones. Players may go to these hoops for protection, however they must be performing an exercise or activity while in the hoop. People can not stay in the safety zone for more than 10 seconds.
36. Dragon Tail Tag- Similar to blob tag except instead of holding the hand of the people you tag, the tagger is dragging a jump rope and everyone the tagger tags must join onto the rope. You can do a scoring system with this game. 2 pts for not being tagged, 1 point if you get tagged and stay connected to the jump rope for the entire round, 0 points if you are on the rope and become disconnected from the rope during the round.
37. Compliment Tag- Everyone is it. If you get tagged freeze where you are. To get back in the game someone must approach you and give you a compliment. Make sure the frozen person says Thank You before they get back in the game
38. Band Aid Tag- Everyone is it. If you get tagged use one hand to cover the body part that was tagged. If you are tagged again move your hand from the previous spot to the new body part that was tagged. Make sure to keep one hand free to tag.
39. Tornado Tag- Everyone is it. When a player is tagged they do a corkscrew spin down to the floor and then reverse the corkscrew back up to a starting position then get back into the game.
40. Star Wars Tag- Divide the class up into four groups. We use pinnies, green are the yoda’s, red are the Vader’s, yellow are the C3PO’s and blue are the Skywalker’s. Everyone gets a light sabre. On the signal everyone begins to duel against the other teams and try to tag an opponent with their sabre. If a person is tagged they go down to one knee and hold their sabre up in the air. To get back into the game a teammate must touch their sabre to the teammate down on one knee. Play is continuous.
41. Swamp Tag-Assign about a 1/3 of the class to be crocodiles, 1/3 to be fishermen and 1/3 to be fish. I usually give the crocodiles a noodle for tagging and a gatorskin to the fishermen. The fish don’t have any equipment.
To play:
-On the starting signal (music for us) the game will begin. The crocodile can ONLY tag the fishermen, and the fishermen can ONLY tag the fish.
-When a crocodile tags a fisherman, those two players exchange playing equipment. Same goes for when a fisherman tags a fish.
-On the stop signal, everyone will freeze. Have the fish identify themselves to the class and then start again.
-Play for as many rounds as you would like.
42. Pac Man-Lines on the gym floor are needed for this game. The more the better. We use floor tape- The game is a simulation of the arcade game of Mr. and Mrs. Pac Man. Players move along the lines on the floor in any path they choose as long as they stay on the lines. Choose a few players to be the “ghosts”. They can have some sort of tagging implement (i.e. noodles) to use to try to tag the Pac Men/Women. Ghosts must stay on lines too as they move. If a ghost tags a player, the player leaves to do a quick activity and then returns to the game.
Points of emphasis: players must stay on the lines. If a player arrives at a traffic jam of people, they may turn back and go back over the same line they just came from. Players cannot step around others who are in front of them.
Variation: If you have a lot of lines on the floor, players may step/jump from one line to another.
43. Clothes Pin Tag
44. Outta Here- Equipment: One hoop for every 2 to 3 players, spread out around the play area, 1 soft foam type ball for each “it.”Game:Place the hula hoops around the play area, in open spaces. On “go” the person/persons who is/are “it” begins to chase the others, trying to tag or toss the ball to hit another player and make him/her “it.” While running away, players have the option of entering a hoop and using it as a base. Hoops may not be shared. If you get to hoop and there is someone in it, say “OUTTA HERE” and the person in the hoop must leave. You may stay in a hoop as long as you wish, but must leave immediately if someone says “OUTTA HERE.” If two people get into a hoop together, figure out who was in the hoop first, give the hoop up to the other person – then say “OUTTA HERE”!!!
46. Reverse Tag: The group circles around the teacher. The teacher selects a few students to take off running. The rest of the group does a count down and when they get to zero the whole group takes off and chases the "it's". When they have been caught, gather the group up again, pick new runners and start again
47. Partner Tag: Have two people join up by holding hands, linking elbows, both holding on to a noodle, etc. Partners run around trying to tag other pairs. When a team is tagged, give a task for the tagged pair to do then get back into the game.
48. Foot to Foot tag: Just like regular frozen tag but players are safe from being tagged if two people lie on their backs and put the soles of their feet together
49.Instant winner- Designate a playing area that the class will play in. Keep the space big enough for players to move safely but small enough to keep players close enough to tag. The object of the game is still be standing after thirty seconds.
On the start signal, players try to tag others. If you get tagged, go down on one knee. When thirty seconds are up, start a new round. Transitions from round to round should be quick.
50. Muscular Strength/Muscular Endurance Tag: One tagger(s) are MS one tagger(s) are ME. If you are tagged by one of them you perform an exercise based on the tagger who tagged you.
51. Component Tag: Select three taggers and give each one a different object to tag with. One object represents cardio endurance. One object represents muscular strength, and the last object represents flexibility. When the game starts the taggers try to tag the other players. If tagged by the cardio tagger, the player jogs a lap around the game. If tagged by the muscular strength tagger, perform an upper,lower or core strength activity. If tagged by the flexibility tagger, leave the game to perform a yoga pose or any other stretch and then jump back into the game.
52. Odd person out: Have students get into groups of three. At the same time all three players will play rock, paper, scissor, shoot. Each player will either shoot a “1” or “2”. If two people shoot the same number and one person is different, then the two people who shot the same number do a quick high five with each other then chase after the “odd” person to try to tag him/her.
*if the group has been chasing the odd person of a while, deem them to be too elusive and start a new round.
53. Jurassic Park Tag: Assign a few people to be T Rex, Allosaurus and Pterodactyl. Assign a few people to be Brontosaurus's and give them each a scooter. The rest of the group will be cave people.
For the different dino's:
T Rex- red gatorskin or beanbag. They can tag anyone, however because of T Rex's supposedly bad eyesight if you stand still you can avoid being tagged.
Allosaurus - give them a soft nerf ball or foam ball. They may underhand toss their ball at the cave people to try to tag them.
Pterodactyl- have two people join together and each gets a tagging object. The two players must stay connected as they chase cave people.
Bronto's- they will ride on their scooter to unfreeze any cave person who has been tagged by a meat eating dino.
54. Slider Tag:This game has a human foosball feel to it. Use existing lines on the floor such as baseline, free throw line, half court line, opposite free throw line, and opposite baseline. Have groups of four or five occupy the lines. The rest of the class starts at one end of the gym trying to get to the other end by dodging the people on the lines as they cross. The players on the lines can only move sideways on their line.
When a player gets to the other end they go off to the side and head back to the starting line and begin again. If a player is tagged, they immediately head off to the side and go back to the start.
*variations- having those on the lines hold hands and create a group line moving together trying to tag runners.
55. Tiger Tails: Everyone gets a scarf and tucks it into the back of their waistband or back pocket. That is their tiger tail. You can do this with a variety of sports such as basketball or soccer. Using basketball for instance, have players dribble a ball with one hand while using the other hand to try to pull others tiger tails. If you steal one, you get to keep it. See how many you can collect.
56.
57. Animal Tag: Place "safe" zones around the area. Assign a few students as taggers. Taggers try to tag other players. If a tagger tags someone they become an animal that was chosen before the game by the class or teacher. The tagged student needs to move to the safe area moving like the chosen animal. Ex. If you were tagged as a Kangaroo, you would hop to the safe area, perform and exercise and get back into the game.
58. Animal Tag 2: Choose taggers. When the taggers tag someone, the tagger must tell the player of the name of their animal. The person that is tagged is then transofrmed into that animal and must move and make noises like that animal as they move to the sign representing that animal posted on the wall. Once they touch the wall they perform an activity and the are free to return to the game.
59. Scavenger Tag: Have a few taggers and give them a tagging implement. Everyone else needs a small object such as a beanbag. When a player is tagged, they drop the beanbag by their feet and perform a predetermined exercise. While they are performing their exercise other people can take the beanbag that is at their feet. Once you have completed your exercise you are back in the game. Only one beanbag can be taken at a time. The object of the game is to collect as many beanbags as you can during the round.
60. Off the Ground Tag: Very similar to the original tag game. Choose a tagger(s) and have them try to tag people. For players to be safe they must have no part of their body touching the ground. If you are playing inside players might choose to stand on mats or hang from bars to elude a tagger. Make sure the area is safe to move around however.
61. Return of the Jedi:This game has elements of "Outta here tag" and "22 Skadoo" Set up four hoops around the playing area. Give out tagging implements to four players. Mark off a big circle in the middle of the playing area.
When the game starts, players (Jedi) are moving around trying not to get tagged by the storm troopers (taggers). If you are tagged by the storm trooper you go to the middle of the playing area (Death Star). Jedi's may rescue others from the Death Star by coming to the edge of the circle and gently pulling them out. The hoops are "stars." Players can use those stars as a safe spot. However they have to be active while on the star. They can stay there as long as they want or until another players tells them they have to leave so they can use the hoop. Play is continuous. Change taggers from time to time.
62. Squad Tag: Divide the class into four teams. On the start signal the "it" team will attempt to tag the members of the other teams. As a player is tagged they perform an exercise in the spot they were tagged. They can be brought back into the game if anyone from one of the non tagging team unfreezes them. Time each round for a minute and then change tagging squads
63. BRYG it on-
64. Hoop Tag- Spread hoops out around the playing area. Choose 1 or more people to be “it” and on person to be “Freer”.
On the start signal, players move around the playing area without stepping in the hoops. If a student is tagged, they stand in one of the hoops. The Freer’s job is to move around the area and give a hi 5 to anyone standing inside a hoop to release them back into the game.
Variations-
-make the playing area smaller so that players need to plan routes around the hoops (pathways).
-have multiple taggers and freers
- make sure if a player is tagged and standing in a hoop that they are active.
- challenge the freer(s) to see how many people they can rescue back into the game. Assign point values for each person they save.
65. Holes
66. Loose Caboose: Divide class into groups of four. Each group stand in single file line holding onto the shoulders of the person in front of them. Select a group of players to be the cabooses. When the game begins each cabooses must try to grab and link on the the end of a line. While this is happening each line will be moving to try to avoid being caught by a caboose. If a caboose is successful the student at the front of the line breaks off and becomes a caboose and tries to join on a different line.
2.Big Game Tag- Each player holds one hand up (this will be their antlers) and uses the other hand for tagging. Everyone is it. When a person is tagged they lost an antler. When they are tagged again they lose yet another antler and so on. When a person has lost all antlers have time pick an exercise or activity to do to regain their antlers. When the player has done that, they get back into the game.
3.Noodle tag- If you get tagged by someone with a noodle you get the noodle from the person who tagged you. Object is to not have a noodle when the round is over. Play multiple rounds.
4.Partner Tag- have two students partner up by joining hands or linking elbows and move together to tag other pairs. If one student in the group is tagged, both players chose an exercise. Once they do 10x of either exercise join up and get back in the game.
5.Helping hands tag- Everyone is it. If a player gets tagged, they sit where they got tagged. Another player will come by and hold both hands out and join hands with the tagged player. The standing player will then lift the sitting player up and get back into the game.
6.Outer Space- Place a few hoops around the playing area and make a large circle in the middle. The hoops represent planets and the large circle in the middle represents the sun. Players are astronauts and give a few players a tagging implement. They will be the aliens. Aliens will try to tag astronauts. Astronauts may avoid being tagged by landing on a planet (hoop). While on the planet they must remain active. They may remain on the planet as long as they wish until another astronaut comes up to them and says "see you later." The astronaut on the planet must leave when that happens. If an alien tags an astronaut, the astronaut goes to the middle and waits in the big circle (sun). The sun provides an energy boost for the astronaut. To get back in the game an astronaut in space must pull an astronaut out of the
7.Melting Tag- Everyone is it. If you get tagged, pretend you are a melting ice cube. As you melt, count down from 10 to 0. If you get to 0, you are now a puddle. Get up and do a choice exercise then get back in game. While you are counting down if someone tags you again before you get to 0 you are free to get back in the game
8.Sit and Spin tag- Everyone is it. When you are tagged, sit on the floor and spin around on your rear end as many times as the teacher assigns. Get back up and join in.
10.Cooperation Tag- Everyone is it. If you get tagged, stop where you are begin a movement to signal you have been tagged. Two people when then join hands around you and and shuffle in a circle around you two times. Once they have done that you are back in the game. Those helping others get back in the game cannot be tagged while helping.
11. Blob Tag- Give a few players an object or pinnie to wear that indicates they are the taggers for the round. Taggers will go around trying to tag anyone. Once a person is tagged they join hands with the tagger and continue to run to tag others. They continue this as long as there are people to tag. The object is to see who can get the biggest line or blob.
12. Fire tag- Everyone is it. When a player is tagged they Stop, Drop and Roll two times (log roll) and then get back into the game
13. Crab Tag- Everyone is it. When a player is tagged they get into crab walk position. While in crab walk position they crabwalk to another player who has been tagged and is now in crabwalk position too. When they crabwalk to each other they will give each other a crab high five (foot to foot) and both stand up and get back into the game.
14. Dead Bug- Everyone is it. When a player is tagged they lie on their back with their hands and feet up in the air. One person will then grab a hold of the players hands and one person will grab a hold of the players feet. The helpers will then drag the player over to a designated area out of the way. Once they are out of the way, the player will do a designated activity and then get back into the game.
15. All In- The game starts with one tagger. When the tagger tags a player that player becomes a tagger too. Play until you have only one person who hasn’t been tagged left.
Variation: I have players grab a pinnie when they have been tagged. When there is only a few players left I stop the round. The next round begins in reverse. The people without a pinnie now become the tagger and when someone is tagged they take their pinnie off and become a tagger
16. Lost in the crowd- (play this game inside, so as not to lose anyone)Players partner up. One person stand in one place and counts to a certain number (to integrate math have them skip count to a certain number). Once the player has reached the designated number they are to go find their partner and try to tag them. Once the partner has been spotted, they can flee if they want to.
17. Elbow Tag or Bumper Tag- Players pair up with each other, link arms and scatter in the their pairs around a playing area. Pick a few players to be “it”. The object of the game is for one of the chasers to hook onto the arm of one of the pairs and when they do the other one of the pair must leave and becomes a chaser trying to link up with another pair.
18.Elbow Tag #2- In this version pairs who are joined are safe.
Players pair up and lock elbows. Have few players remain as singles to be "it". The "it's" are attempting to tag each other. If a tagger is chasing another tagger, they may lock elbows with a pair (as in the original game) and the opposite side member must bump off and become an "it". If a tagger tags another "it", that person leaves the game to do an activity and then rejoins.
19. Chain Reaction- Players pair up with each other, link arms and scatter in the their pairs around a playing area. Pick a few players to be “it”. When a pair is tagged they split up and each of the players in the pair joins in as individuals to become chasers. Once you become a chaser you remain one for the rest of the round. The game ends when there are no more pairs.
20. Buffalo Bill and Betty- Pick a boy and a girl to be IT. They have 60 seconds to tag or “round up” as many buffalo as they can. As students are tagged, they must go to the corral (coned off area). Have them doing something active and fun while in the corral. At the end of the round, count the buffalo and see if the next taggers can beat that number.
21. Partner Tag- simple tag game where only partners are chasing each other. When one partner tags the other, switch roles.
22. Rock, Paper, Scissor Tag (RSP)- have partners do RSP. The winner then chases the other partner. Once the other partner is tagged do a new round.
-variation- do active RSP- instead of pounding their fist’s have the partners jump to the cadence. On “shoot” they use their feet to show R, S, or P.
Feet together = Rock
Feet wide apart = Paper
Feet split apart from front to back = scissors
23. Catching Tag- Noodles and gatorskins are needed. Players with noodles go around trying to tag everyone. When a player is tagged they must freeze. To get back into the game a player with a gatorskin must correctly perform an underhand toss or overhand throw to the tagged person and the tagged person must catch it. If the tagged person catches the ball they are back into the game and now they must help someone get back into the game by tossing or throwing the ball to a tagger player
24. Memory Tag- All students in memory tag are taggers. If a student is tagged they do a designated activity in the spot where they were tagged. They have to remember who tagged them. When another student tags the student who tagged them they are free to join the game again. If two students tag each other at the same time, use rock, paper, scissor.
Variation: if player doesn't see who tagged them or person who tagged them is not getting tagged, player make count to 100 by 10's (or whatever type of skip counting you want to do). If you get to 100 before the person who
25.
26. Shadow Tag- Play this game outside. Everyone is it. Instead of players tagging each other, players will “tag” by stepping on someone’s shadow. To make it more advanced, make the objective to tag a particular body part, head, arm, leg, etc.
27. Hot and Cold Tag- Give out a red gatorskins to a few players and give out blue gatorskins to a few players (beanbags are fine as well). The blue people are the ice kings/queens and are the taggers. The red people are fire. When a player is tagged by an ice king/queen that player freezes in a balance position. To get back into the game a person with a fireball must come and hand it to them so that they can melt and get back into the game.
28.
29. Cone Tag- Place cones randomly around the gym. Designate a small area in the middle as the “tagger’s circle”. The rest of the players stand at a cone, no more than 3 at a cone. When the game starts the “Cone People” move to another cone while trying not to be tagged by a tagger. There are never to be more than 3 people at a cone. Play is continuous as players move from cone to cone trying to avoid being tagged. If a player is tagged they become a tagger and the tagger becomes a Cone Person. Players may only remain at a cone for no longer than 5 seconds before they must move to a different cone.
30. Run for it- Make a large circle in the middle that players can move in and out of easily. Place cones outside of the large circle in random spots. Assign 3 or 4 players to be taggers and give them noodles. The object of the game is for the players in the middle to leave the big circle, go tag a cone outside of the circle and then return. If they make it back to the big circle without being tagged they get a point (or skip count). If they get tagged before making it back to the middle they get no points for that round. Keep rounds to about 60 seconds or so. Change taggers each round.
31. Foot Tag- Give half the class noodles. When the game starts the taggers with the noodles are going to try to tag other player’s feet with the noodle.
-variation- give the taggers gatorskins and have them try to toss/roll or throw the ball at their foot.
32. Bean Bag Tag- Select three colors of beanbags and give each student a bean bag. The students will move through the designated playing area attempting to slide/throw the bean bags at each others feet. If you get tagged with a beanbag, you hold your bean bag in the air until someone with the same color beanbag sets you free by sliding the beanbag between your feet. Play is continuous.
33. Jungle Tag- A few players are chosen as hyenas to be the taggers. The rest of the class are animals in the jungle and line up on the baseline. The teacher then secretly chooses two lions. On the signal the animals and two lions run to the other baseline. Any animal tagged by a hyena is frozen. On the return trip the lions may unfreeze the frozen animals. The idea is for the hyenas to figure out who are the lions and try to tag them. When the lions are tagged the round is over.
34. Balance tag - spread out hoops. In the hoops put something for the players to balance on. I used inflatable balance pads in some hoops and a foam brick in others. Assign a handful of taggers. Also hand out a few gatorballs. If a player is tagged they find a hoop to go to and stand on the balance object. To get back in the game a player with a gator ball must throw or toss their ball to the balancing player. Balancing player must catch the ball and remain on balance while doing so. If they achieve this, they may get back into the game and take their ball to go help someone else. (If you can, use bosu balls for this activity!)
35. Shout it out Tag- Place 4 hoops in each corner of the gym with a 5th hoop in the middle. Choose 4-5 people to be it. Each it has a gatorskin which is a “stink bomb”. On the signal the game will start and the skunks chase the other players, trying to tag them with the gatorskin. After a player has been tagged that player must take the ball and go the the middle hoop, do a star jump and exclaim anything they want as loud as possible!.
The hoops in the corner are safety zones. Players may go to these hoops for protection, however they must be performing an exercise or activity while in the hoop. People can not stay in the safety zone for more than 10 seconds.
36. Dragon Tail Tag- Similar to blob tag except instead of holding the hand of the people you tag, the tagger is dragging a jump rope and everyone the tagger tags must join onto the rope. You can do a scoring system with this game. 2 pts for not being tagged, 1 point if you get tagged and stay connected to the jump rope for the entire round, 0 points if you are on the rope and become disconnected from the rope during the round.
37. Compliment Tag- Everyone is it. If you get tagged freeze where you are. To get back in the game someone must approach you and give you a compliment. Make sure the frozen person says Thank You before they get back in the game
38. Band Aid Tag- Everyone is it. If you get tagged use one hand to cover the body part that was tagged. If you are tagged again move your hand from the previous spot to the new body part that was tagged. Make sure to keep one hand free to tag.
39. Tornado Tag- Everyone is it. When a player is tagged they do a corkscrew spin down to the floor and then reverse the corkscrew back up to a starting position then get back into the game.
40. Star Wars Tag- Divide the class up into four groups. We use pinnies, green are the yoda’s, red are the Vader’s, yellow are the C3PO’s and blue are the Skywalker’s. Everyone gets a light sabre. On the signal everyone begins to duel against the other teams and try to tag an opponent with their sabre. If a person is tagged they go down to one knee and hold their sabre up in the air. To get back into the game a teammate must touch their sabre to the teammate down on one knee. Play is continuous.
41. Swamp Tag-Assign about a 1/3 of the class to be crocodiles, 1/3 to be fishermen and 1/3 to be fish. I usually give the crocodiles a noodle for tagging and a gatorskin to the fishermen. The fish don’t have any equipment.
To play:
-On the starting signal (music for us) the game will begin. The crocodile can ONLY tag the fishermen, and the fishermen can ONLY tag the fish.
-When a crocodile tags a fisherman, those two players exchange playing equipment. Same goes for when a fisherman tags a fish.
-On the stop signal, everyone will freeze. Have the fish identify themselves to the class and then start again.
-Play for as many rounds as you would like.
42. Pac Man-Lines on the gym floor are needed for this game. The more the better. We use floor tape- The game is a simulation of the arcade game of Mr. and Mrs. Pac Man. Players move along the lines on the floor in any path they choose as long as they stay on the lines. Choose a few players to be the “ghosts”. They can have some sort of tagging implement (i.e. noodles) to use to try to tag the Pac Men/Women. Ghosts must stay on lines too as they move. If a ghost tags a player, the player leaves to do a quick activity and then returns to the game.
Points of emphasis: players must stay on the lines. If a player arrives at a traffic jam of people, they may turn back and go back over the same line they just came from. Players cannot step around others who are in front of them.
Variation: If you have a lot of lines on the floor, players may step/jump from one line to another.
43. Clothes Pin Tag
44. Outta Here- Equipment: One hoop for every 2 to 3 players, spread out around the play area, 1 soft foam type ball for each “it.”Game:Place the hula hoops around the play area, in open spaces. On “go” the person/persons who is/are “it” begins to chase the others, trying to tag or toss the ball to hit another player and make him/her “it.” While running away, players have the option of entering a hoop and using it as a base. Hoops may not be shared. If you get to hoop and there is someone in it, say “OUTTA HERE” and the person in the hoop must leave. You may stay in a hoop as long as you wish, but must leave immediately if someone says “OUTTA HERE.” If two people get into a hoop together, figure out who was in the hoop first, give the hoop up to the other person – then say “OUTTA HERE”!!!
46. Reverse Tag: The group circles around the teacher. The teacher selects a few students to take off running. The rest of the group does a count down and when they get to zero the whole group takes off and chases the "it's". When they have been caught, gather the group up again, pick new runners and start again
47. Partner Tag: Have two people join up by holding hands, linking elbows, both holding on to a noodle, etc. Partners run around trying to tag other pairs. When a team is tagged, give a task for the tagged pair to do then get back into the game.
48. Foot to Foot tag: Just like regular frozen tag but players are safe from being tagged if two people lie on their backs and put the soles of their feet together
49.Instant winner- Designate a playing area that the class will play in. Keep the space big enough for players to move safely but small enough to keep players close enough to tag. The object of the game is still be standing after thirty seconds.
On the start signal, players try to tag others. If you get tagged, go down on one knee. When thirty seconds are up, start a new round. Transitions from round to round should be quick.
50. Muscular Strength/Muscular Endurance Tag: One tagger(s) are MS one tagger(s) are ME. If you are tagged by one of them you perform an exercise based on the tagger who tagged you.
51. Component Tag: Select three taggers and give each one a different object to tag with. One object represents cardio endurance. One object represents muscular strength, and the last object represents flexibility. When the game starts the taggers try to tag the other players. If tagged by the cardio tagger, the player jogs a lap around the game. If tagged by the muscular strength tagger, perform an upper,lower or core strength activity. If tagged by the flexibility tagger, leave the game to perform a yoga pose or any other stretch and then jump back into the game.
52. Odd person out: Have students get into groups of three. At the same time all three players will play rock, paper, scissor, shoot. Each player will either shoot a “1” or “2”. If two people shoot the same number and one person is different, then the two people who shot the same number do a quick high five with each other then chase after the “odd” person to try to tag him/her.
*if the group has been chasing the odd person of a while, deem them to be too elusive and start a new round.
53. Jurassic Park Tag: Assign a few people to be T Rex, Allosaurus and Pterodactyl. Assign a few people to be Brontosaurus's and give them each a scooter. The rest of the group will be cave people.
For the different dino's:
T Rex- red gatorskin or beanbag. They can tag anyone, however because of T Rex's supposedly bad eyesight if you stand still you can avoid being tagged.
Allosaurus - give them a soft nerf ball or foam ball. They may underhand toss their ball at the cave people to try to tag them.
Pterodactyl- have two people join together and each gets a tagging object. The two players must stay connected as they chase cave people.
Bronto's- they will ride on their scooter to unfreeze any cave person who has been tagged by a meat eating dino.
54. Slider Tag:This game has a human foosball feel to it. Use existing lines on the floor such as baseline, free throw line, half court line, opposite free throw line, and opposite baseline. Have groups of four or five occupy the lines. The rest of the class starts at one end of the gym trying to get to the other end by dodging the people on the lines as they cross. The players on the lines can only move sideways on their line.
When a player gets to the other end they go off to the side and head back to the starting line and begin again. If a player is tagged, they immediately head off to the side and go back to the start.
*variations- having those on the lines hold hands and create a group line moving together trying to tag runners.
55. Tiger Tails: Everyone gets a scarf and tucks it into the back of their waistband or back pocket. That is their tiger tail. You can do this with a variety of sports such as basketball or soccer. Using basketball for instance, have players dribble a ball with one hand while using the other hand to try to pull others tiger tails. If you steal one, you get to keep it. See how many you can collect.
56.
57. Animal Tag: Place "safe" zones around the area. Assign a few students as taggers. Taggers try to tag other players. If a tagger tags someone they become an animal that was chosen before the game by the class or teacher. The tagged student needs to move to the safe area moving like the chosen animal. Ex. If you were tagged as a Kangaroo, you would hop to the safe area, perform and exercise and get back into the game.
58. Animal Tag 2: Choose taggers. When the taggers tag someone, the tagger must tell the player of the name of their animal. The person that is tagged is then transofrmed into that animal and must move and make noises like that animal as they move to the sign representing that animal posted on the wall. Once they touch the wall they perform an activity and the are free to return to the game.
59. Scavenger Tag: Have a few taggers and give them a tagging implement. Everyone else needs a small object such as a beanbag. When a player is tagged, they drop the beanbag by their feet and perform a predetermined exercise. While they are performing their exercise other people can take the beanbag that is at their feet. Once you have completed your exercise you are back in the game. Only one beanbag can be taken at a time. The object of the game is to collect as many beanbags as you can during the round.
60. Off the Ground Tag: Very similar to the original tag game. Choose a tagger(s) and have them try to tag people. For players to be safe they must have no part of their body touching the ground. If you are playing inside players might choose to stand on mats or hang from bars to elude a tagger. Make sure the area is safe to move around however.
61. Return of the Jedi:This game has elements of "Outta here tag" and "22 Skadoo" Set up four hoops around the playing area. Give out tagging implements to four players. Mark off a big circle in the middle of the playing area.
When the game starts, players (Jedi) are moving around trying not to get tagged by the storm troopers (taggers). If you are tagged by the storm trooper you go to the middle of the playing area (Death Star). Jedi's may rescue others from the Death Star by coming to the edge of the circle and gently pulling them out. The hoops are "stars." Players can use those stars as a safe spot. However they have to be active while on the star. They can stay there as long as they want or until another players tells them they have to leave so they can use the hoop. Play is continuous. Change taggers from time to time.
62. Squad Tag: Divide the class into four teams. On the start signal the "it" team will attempt to tag the members of the other teams. As a player is tagged they perform an exercise in the spot they were tagged. They can be brought back into the game if anyone from one of the non tagging team unfreezes them. Time each round for a minute and then change tagging squads
63. BRYG it on-
64. Hoop Tag- Spread hoops out around the playing area. Choose 1 or more people to be “it” and on person to be “Freer”.
On the start signal, players move around the playing area without stepping in the hoops. If a student is tagged, they stand in one of the hoops. The Freer’s job is to move around the area and give a hi 5 to anyone standing inside a hoop to release them back into the game.
Variations-
-make the playing area smaller so that players need to plan routes around the hoops (pathways).
-have multiple taggers and freers
- make sure if a player is tagged and standing in a hoop that they are active.
- challenge the freer(s) to see how many people they can rescue back into the game. Assign point values for each person they save.
65. Holes
66. Loose Caboose: Divide class into groups of four. Each group stand in single file line holding onto the shoulders of the person in front of them. Select a group of players to be the cabooses. When the game begins each cabooses must try to grab and link on the the end of a line. While this is happening each line will be moving to try to avoid being caught by a caboose. If a caboose is successful the student at the front of the line breaks off and becomes a caboose and tries to join on a different line.